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Topic: It must flow

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Watchman
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It must flow

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The combat must flow, if it doesn’t, you’re doing it wrong.  I’m going to cover watchman spec because it has hands down the most survivability and can still contribute quite a bit to a group.  Combat has multiple roots and fast transcendence, but you are extremely squishy.  Focus is better left to guardians, although if we ran a complete focus train and needed sents to spec this there may be some merit.

spec 33/8/0 http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#501uMMZZbIrRMRrfs.2

Primary rotation is force leap, overload saber, zealous strike, cauterize, merciless slash (or master strike if your target looks dumb).  If you’re against a healer or a target that you know is being healed, you want to apply crippling throw (20% heal reduction for 15 sec) either before or after cauterize.  If you have a runner, apply it after.  If you have ally dps already on a healer and you're late to the party, use crippling throw immediately after force leaping.

Offensives/Interrupts:

Dispatch – use it whenever it’s up. Against marauders who burn guarded by the force, do a 5 count and then throw.

Kick – use it against heals or channeled abilities.  Use it often since it is on a 6 sec cooldown.  Better to burn it and accidentally waste it since it will be up again so fast.  Not useful against snipers in cover as they are immune, though it’s still fun to kick them in the face.

Pacify – use it against any attack class but a sage, highly recommended against warriors as soon as they ravage.

Stasis- best used on targets approaching the 30% health range if you have multiple dps on target, can also be used to save yourself from a ravage or if you need to buy some time for cooldowns

Awe – don’t waste it.  Suffers similar problems of force sweep in that it can tend to be lagged out of by moving targets, best to use it on a group of mostly stationary targets whenever possible, and call it out in vent before you do so

Sweep/Cyclone Slash – expensive, only useful to prevent node capping. (really miss cheap aoe’s)

Defensives:

Resolute – cc break, ideally only ever use it when you absolutely need it and have full resolve (ie enemy is going to get a node or you’re stunned on a fire)

Rebuke – pop it at the start of all fights if you know you’ll be taking at least some damage.

Force Camo – high versatility on a relatively short CD, try and use it early in a fight when you’re getting attacked when most would use saberward.  Also useful for closing in on healers, or if you get knocked back by a sniper.

Saberward – only use it when you’re being focused or standing in a nasty aoe

Guarded By the Force – use it below 30% health and immediately pop a health pot.  Use Force Camo near the end to be a dbag.

Centering abilities – Inspiration +15% dmg/healing for 15 sec should be used whenever it is up, preferably in a larger battle. 

-Zen, use it in one on one or group situations, it’s healing is small, but it affects the entire raid in range.  Great if you don’t need transcendence.

-Transcendence – great to use around your healer’s, gives 10% defense and lets them kite w/ 50% run speed.  Also great if you’re getting kited.

I usually use both Zen and Trans equal amounts in a game, just depends on the situation.

Win



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Watcher
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Nice guide Dritz!

 

Next thing I'd suggest adding would be some kind of priority system on targets; who makes a good target specifically to Watchman Sents, and who makes a bad target? I'd assume good targets would be any form of healer or an Arsenal Merc with your 6 second interrupt, and bad targets would be Gunslingers because of how hard they are to stick to.

 

Nice work. 



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Xinika the Omnispawna
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I think one of the most overlooked parts is Awe. People don't utilize this ability to it's full strength. Great thread.

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Watchman
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i thought this thread would reference DUNE in some way. "the spice must flow"

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Watchman
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Priorities are the same as any other dps class, healers > dps > tanks.  You're right about snipers though, they can be a pain to chase with their pushbacks, roots, stuns, and cover.  When prioritizing dps, I'd say sorc's, any BH, infil assassins, operatives, warriors/kc assassins, snipers in that order.  Wouldn't by any means give snipers a free pass, but it's best to have some help on them cause they can waste a ton of your time.  Our dot's actually make us one of the better dps classes to attack a tank with too.



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Solarion
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Is their a soft cap on expertise for watchman or should we get expertise as high as we can possibly go? Ive been thinking about getting black hole power belt for the increased HP/Str instead of the WH belt but i would lose 67 expertise. I have 1243 right now and still have WH upgrades to get for my bracers, chest and both weapons.

Keep up the good work on this, very interesting read for my favorite spec. See you guys in pugs



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Watching
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Solarion wrote:

Is their a soft cap on expertise for watchman or should we get expertise as high as we can possibly go? Ive been thinking about getting black hole power belt for the increased HP/Str instead of the WH belt but i would lose 67 expertise. I have 1243 right now and still have WH upgrades to get for my bracers, chest and both weapons.

Keep up the good work on this, very interesting read for my favorite spec. See you guys in pugs


 1100 expertise is the general slow DR on expertise. Groups tend not to target Marauders that much because of the ever expected Undying Rage. I do not believe you need any more than 1200. Just stack as much power and crit as you can.



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Watchman
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Buffed I'm currently at 1747 STR, 1668 END and 1278 EXP, I'd say 1200's is the sweet spot for EXP but either way at this point you're talking miniscule improvements either way you slice it.  Also at 210 accuracy, 351 crit rating and 318 surge rating, though sometimes I swap out more accuracy/power for crit surge depending on my mood, never fluctuates much though.  When you're in full aug WH gear, it's all about skill.

Dritz



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Watching
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wouldn't focused leap be better than force fade since on the basic (leap OS zealous cauterize merc) you'd have to throw in a saber strike at some point to compensate? personally I don't find the extra time on camo THAT useful

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Watchman
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I personally prefer the flexibility of having the camo buff as I find it has more utility than 1 extra focus every 12 seconds.  Faster gap closer, faster escape, quicker closing on nodes and quicker across fires is all pretty critical when the game types involve objectives.  It's having basic transcendence while stealthed!

Dritz



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Solarion
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I agree, the speed increase and extra time with camo actually do make a difference from my experience anyway.

I currently have 2 points in master focus, but more often than not I dont get the last hit in with master strike, unless they backpedal super slow. Ive been thinking of taking them out and putting them elsewhere, I only have 1 of 2 in defensive roll and i def want the other point there as its always a cluster of AOE near doors and turrets.

I havent tried jedi crusader yet, does it feel like it gives significant focus during a match?



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Watchman
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With as often as rebuke is up, and as much aoe is thrown out there, not to mention 1v1 and 1v2 fights you'll find yourself in, I don't see the point being better spent anywhere else.



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